Chapter 12 - The Man Who Raised a Lie
Adrian laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the alternative was breaking something.
“My father died when I was ten.”
Lena shook her head. “The man you called your father died when you were ten.”
Cross leaned against the desk. “This is getting ridiculous even by Lantern standards.”
Lena looked at Adrian. “Lucas Voss was sixteen when you were born. Your grandparents raised you as their son to avoid scandal. Lucas was introduced as your brother.”
Adrian’s face hardened. “And then he conveniently died at nineteen.”
“He was recruited.”
“By Shaw.”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked away.
Claire understood suddenly why Lucas had watched Noah with something deeper than professional interest.
Grandfather.
The thought felt impossible.
Adrian whispered, “He knew?”
“Always.”
“And he never told me.”
“He thought keeping distance would protect you.”
Claire let out a bitter breath. “Apparently secrecy is hereditary.”
Adrian looked at her.
He deserved that too.
Cross checked the clock. “Thirty-five minutes.”
Claire took a deep breath. “We need a plan.”
Adrian recovered fast.
“Mercer campus has three entrances. Shaw expects me to trade Noah for Lucas.”
“We’re not bringing Noah.”
“We need her to think we are.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed. “A decoy.”
Lena nodded. “The lab can authenticate DNA remotely if there’s a fresh sample.”
Claire looked down at her son.
“No needles.”
Adrian almost smiled. “Still no needles.”
Cross said, “Saliva from his pacifier might be enough to fool the first-stage scanner.”
Claire pulled the pacifier from her diaper bag and held it like a weapon.
“Anyone loses this, I kill them myself.”
Father Michael raised his good hand. “I believe her.”
They built the plan quickly.
Cross and Lena would take Mia and Father Michael to a federal field office forty miles away.
Claire and Adrian would approach Mercer with a wrapped baby carrier containing a heated medical training doll and Noah’s pacifier sealed inside.
“No,” Adrian said suddenly.
Claire looked at him.
“You’re not coming.”
She laughed in his face.
“That was adorable.”
“Claire.”
“She knows me. She expects me. If you show up alone, she’ll know Noah isn’t with you.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“So was giving birth while believing my husband was dead.”
Adrian had no answer.
She handed Noah to Lena.
Her arms felt instantly wrong without him.
“Keep him safe.”
Lena nodded. “With my life.”
Claire kissed Noah’s forehead.
Then she looked at Adrian.
“Let’s go meet your father.”
His phone buzzed.
A new message from Lucas.
May you like
Only four words:
DON’T TRUST HELEN WARD.
